magnesium fire sticks

[Guest]

it was nicer weather in ohio over the weekend, so we took advantage of it. we started to play around in the backyard with our magnesium fire starter sticks that the wife and I have been carrying in an altoids tin for our EDC.
my first attempt at using it was successful and I got a fire started after about 10 minutes of trying.
my wifes first attempt was less succesful and I jumped in and tried to start it. it did not go good. I ended up using a bic lighter in the tin.
it seems that a simply fero rod that shoots a ton of sparks with minimal effort would be easier. the mag sticks flint was ground down pretty far after just using it those two times and was hard to get sparks. they are the Doan mag sticks that are supposed to be mil spec.
any hints or tips would be appreciated.

[610Alpha]

I have a couple of these: http://www.campingsurvival.com/stmak7mastma.html I have heard of using a hacksaw blade to shave the magnesium bar and also as the striker on flint steel bar, that site also has the plain ol flint steel bars http://www.campingsurvival.com/flintbar18x2.html

[Tarakian]

I haven't had much luck with the mag bar. I would rather have just a good firesteel and pj cotton balls, much easier, much better, and the petroleum jelly cotton balls have other uses besides.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

The last mag bags I bought were at the gun show. The guy was doing the demo and I told him"if you want to buy them then I want to start my own fire with them". He said no problem and I jumped up and knocked it out. I havent had much luck with some "brands" but this guys was homemade. I wish i had gotten some info on him but I didnt. I agree with Tarakian except I'm cheap and use dryer lint now.

[jmsneorrcom]

The last mag bags I bought were at the gun show. The guy was doing the demo and I told him"if you want to buy them then I want to start my own fire with them". He said no problem and I jumped up and knocked it out. I havent had much luck with some "brands" but this guys was homemade. I wish i had gotten some info on him but I didnt. I agree with Tarakian except I'm cheap and use dryer lint now.

I have been a firefighter for 23 years - dryer lint is the most flammable thing I have ever seen, it rivals gasoline and nuclear fisson

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I have been a firefighter for 23 years - dryer lint is the most flammable thing I have ever seen, it rivals gasoline and nuclear fisson

Now if we could just convince the spouses and kids so they would empty the filter!

[WiseOwl]

The Mag stick is the only way I start fires there days..you have to get the bigger one and use a regular knife. I have got to where it only takes 2 maybe 3 strikes and I have fire. Practice makes perfect. I have even started a fire in the rain (with dry tender obviously)

[jmsneorrcom]

The Mag stick is the only way I start fires there days..you have to get the bigger one and use a regular knife. I have got to where it only takes 2 maybe 3 strikes and I have fire. Practice makes perfect. I have even started a fire in the rain (with dry tender obviously)

do you have a specific brand wiseowl that you use? I was always told the Doan mag sticks where the way to go becouse they were mil spec

[WiseOwl]

I honestly dont remember from the package and the actual stick doesnt have a name on it. Its about 3 inches long. I removed the lil saw like scraper and chain. I used my pocket knife to shave and strike.

[Fixer]

Was skeptical but this no-frills product is fine. Just scrape off the protective coating first. http://www.meritline.com/survival-fi...--p-42588.aspx

Ships from Asia so it'll take a couple of weeks to get to you. At $17 for five (5) units, you can spend your dollars on other deserving preps.

[2682nscovell]

For some reason the steel wool and a 9 volt battery is my favorite. The battery will still work even if it's wet and steel wool is easy to dry, I think it actually will still work even when it's wet as well. I need to test that.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Was skeptical but this no-frills product is fine. Just scrape off the protective coating first. http://www.meritline.com/survival-fi...--p-42588.aspxShips from Asia so it'll take a couple of weeks to get to you. At $17 for five (5) units, you can spend your dollars on other deserving preps.

I have quiet a few of those scattered everywhere. I used a piece of sandpaper to clean off the coating and got a big sparkie suprise!